Statement by Prof. Mira Rakacolli, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection:

As part of the daily briefing on the spread of the Covid-19 infection in our country, we inform that tests were conducted on the samples of 255 suspected cases, out of which 12 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours. The majority of the fresh cases are contacts of the previously confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Three new cases were identified in Fier, three more cases in Kruja, three others in Kamez, two in Shkodra and only one new case was detected in Tirana, bringing the total number of people who have tested positive for the Covid-19 in Albania to 832.

So far a total of 595 people have recovered, whereas the number of active cases is 206.

A total of 36 patients are being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital and the ‘COVID 2’ Hospital, eight of whom are in intensive care.

The rest of the Covid-19 patients, mainly asymptomatic, are being monitored by the family doctors.

The epidemiological situation of the Sars Cov 2 infection and Covid-19 disease in Albania is being carefully monitored by all health care structures all over the country. With the lockdown measures gradually easing, health authorities have increased vigilance to track down, test and detect the suspected Covid-19 cases and their close contacts in order to make sure that the situation remains under control.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection urges citizens to strictly abide by the instructions from the health authorities about social and physical distancing rules and personal hygiene, and calls on businesses to rigorously comply with the safety protocols.

We urge citizens to immediately dial the National Emergency Line 127 if they suspect about Covid-19 symptoms.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has also made available the green line 0800-40-40, offering psychological counselling to help the citizens with physical, emotional and other mental health-related concerns.

Currently, the geographical distribution of the active Covid-19 cases in Albania is as follows:

Tirana             98

Kruja               69

Shkodra          16

Kamez             6

Kurbin             4

Elbasan           3

Fier                   3

Mirdita             2

Berat                2

Durres             1

Korça               1

Lezha               1